Skip to main content
Download PDF
  • Research article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Inflammatory arthritis in HIV positive patients: A practical guide

BMC Infectious Diseases volume 16, Article number: 100 (2016) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Musculoskeletal manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been described since the outset of the global HIV epidemic. Articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV include HIV-associated arthropathy, seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SPA) (reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and undifferentiated SPA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and painful articular syndrome.

Methods

We carried out a computer-assisted search of PubMed for the medical literature from January 1981 to January 2015 using the keywords HIV, acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, rheumatic manifestations, arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, anti-TNF and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Only English language literature was included and only studies involving adult human subjects were assessed.

Results

There are challenges in the management of inflammatory arthritis in patients who are HIV-positive, including difficulties in the assessment of disease activity and limited information on the safety of immunosuppressive drugs in these individuals.

Conclusions

This review focuses on the clinical characteristics of the inflammatory articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV infection and discusses the therapeutic options for these patients.

Peer Review reports

Background

Musculoskeletal manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been described since the outset of the global HIV epidemic. The first reports of rheumatological symptoms of the infection occurred 3 years after its discovery, with Winchester et al. describing a case of reactive arthritis in a patient with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [1]. Substantial gains have been made at stemming the spread of HIV, with the rate of new cases each year steadily declining and the number of AIDS-related deaths also falling from 3.1 million in 2005 to 1.7 million in 2012 [2]. HIV positive patients are also living longer due to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and as a result, chronic non-communicable diseases in long-term sufferers of HIV are now emerging as a significant cause of morbidity. Patients infected with HIV have been shown to have a higher risk of developing rheumatic diseases [3], and this can occur at any stage of the disease. Moreover, HIV positive patients having musculoskeletal involvement have reduced quality of life, when compared to those without rheumatic symptoms [4]. Articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV include HIV-associated arthropathy, seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SPA) (reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and undifferentiated SPA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and painful articular syndrome. Other nonarticular rheumatological conditions including osteonecrosis, vasculitis and myositis are well described manifestations of HIV but are not within the scope of this article. This review focuses on the clinical characteristics of the inflammatory articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV infection and discusses the therapeutic options for these patients.

Methods

We carried out a computer-assisted search of PubMed and google scholar for the medical literature from January 1981 to January 2015 using the keywords HIV, acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, rheumatic manifestations, arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, anti-TNF and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Only English language literature was included and only studies involving adult human subjects were assessed (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Flowchart of study identification and selection

Full size image

Results

HIV-associated Arthropathy

HIV-associated arthritis can occur at any stage of HIV illness. It presents as an asymmetric oligo arthritis, symmetrical polyarthritis or as a monoarthritis. The asymmetric, oligo arthritis variant is the most common form, has a male preponderance, and predominately affects the knees and ankles [5]. The symmetrical polyarthritis variant closely mimics RA, with patients exhibiting similar deformities to rheumatoid patients, including ulnar deviation. It is characterised however by greater acuity at onset and is usually nonerosive. The presence of Jaccoud arthropathy as part of an HIV-associated arthritis has also been described occasionally [6]. HIV-associated arthritis tends to be short lived with its peak intensity occurring in 1 to 6 weeks [7]. However, some patients develop a chronic destructive arthropathy, associated with marked functional disability [8]. Features of mucocutaneous involvement or enthesopathy are rare. Radiological changes can occasionally mimic RA, with joint space narrowing, erosions and periarticular osteopenia [5]. However, some patients demonstrate new bone formation - a radiological finding unusual in RA [9]. There is an inflammatory, but sterile pattern on synovial fluid analysis with white cell count in the region of 50–2600 cells/μL, and normal glucose [5]. ANA, Rheumatoid Factor and HLA B27 are negative [10]. There remains considerable debate as to whether HIV infection is the cause of, or a coincidental finding in patients who are HIV positive and seronegative with an inflammatory arthritis. The evidence supporting the hypothesis that HIV has a direct inflammatory effect on synovial tissue is twofold. Firstly, p24 antigen, HIV DNA and tuboreticular inclusions have been detected in the synovial fluid of affected joints [11]. These all point to a viral aetiology. P24 antigen in particular has been found in joints at levels ten times higher than the serum levels [11]. Secondly, there is the epidemiological observation of increased prevalence of rheumatic conditions in HIV positive patients [5]. Some authors have speculated that the true prevalence of HIV-associated arthritis is higher than is generally recorded [11].

Painful articular syndrome

The painful articular syndrome is a self-limited disorder of unknown aetiology, lasting for less than 24 h in patients with HIV infections. It is reported in up to 10 % of African HIV-seropositive patients [12] and is noted to be more common in those with advanced infection [13]. Bone and joint pain is noted, especially in the lower extremities in an asymmetric pattern, which is out of proportion to clinical findings. Though synovitis is absent, pain is excruciating and debilitating leading to hospital treatment in more than half of patients. The joints most commonly involved are the knees, shoulders and elbows [11]. Its prevalence appears to have reduced since the advent of HAART [14].

Spondyloarthropathies

The emergence of HIV has changed the epidemiological profile of rheumatic diseases particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The SPA were previously described as uncommon in sub-Saharan African due to the rarity of the HLA-B27 allele, but there is an increased prevalence of PsA and reactive arthritis in Africa since the outset of the HIV epidemic [15]. Severe forms of psoriasis and PsA have been reported and are almost universally associated with HIV [16]. This is in contrast to Caucasian HIV positive patients where an increased severity but not prevalence of psoriasis and arthritis is seen [14]. There has been a change in the presentation and severity of these conditions since the widespread use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy [8], with the prevalence of PsA and reactive arthritis declining [14].

Reactive arthritis

A link between HIV and reactive arthritis has been reported since the early stages of the HIV epidemic. The most typical presentation is that of a seronegative peripheral oligo arthritis predominantly involving the lower extremities, usually accompanied by enthesitis [11]. Mucocutaneous features are common - classically keratoderma blenorrhagicum and circinate balanitis. Skin involvement can be so extensive as to cause diagnostic confusion with PsA [11]. Urethritis occurs in similar frequency to HIV-negative reactive arthritis. Axial involvement and uveitis are uncommon, but do occur. HLA-B27 is found in 80–90 % of Caucasians with HIV-associated reactive arthritis, while studies of Africans with HIV-associated reactive arthritis have found nearly all to be HLA-B27-negative [7]. As in HIV uninfected patients, antecedent history of genitourinary and gastrointestinal infection is common. This point could hold the key to explaining the geographical differences observed in the prevalence of reactive arthritis – countries with higher rates of HIV contracted through intravenous drug use for example, rather than sexual contact, have observed lower rates of reactive arthritis [7].

Psoriatic arthritis

Along with an increased occurrence, studies suggest that HIV-infected patients with psoriasis have more severe and persistent skin lesions with guttate, inverse and erythrodermic subtypes most common [17]. Similarly, those with joint disease generally suffer a more severe, deforming, erosive arthropathy refractory to conventional treatment [15], with worse clinical features in advanced HIV infection [13]. The onset of psoriatic arthritis in the setting of HIV frequently heralds the development of opportunistic infections [18]. The typical clinical presentation is an asymmetrical oligo- or polyarthritis, with a predilection for the lower limbs [16]. A symmetrical polyarthritis is also described with arthritis mutilans, but distal interphalangeal involvement and axial SPA patterns appear less freqeuntly [16]. Onset may be abrupt, with the development of erosions and disability within weeks. In addition, the number of joints affected tends to increase with time [19].

Undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy

Some HIV-infected patients fail to develop the entire spectrum of clinical manifestations for disease to be classified as ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, or PsA, and are labelled as undifferentiated SPA. The predominant rheumatic manifestations exhibited in those with undifferentiated SPA include achilles tendinitis, dactylitis, low-back pain, plantar fasciitis, ankle pain and shoulder pain [11]. Manifestations of keratoderma blenorrhagicum and circinate balanitis are common however a lower frequency of uveitis and axial skeleton involvement is observed [20]. Psoriasiform skin rashes are also common and can be extensive. On magnetic resonance imaging and sonographic imaging, synovitis of the knees, extensive polyenthesitis, and adjacent osteitis are the frequent findings [21].

Rheumatoid arthritis

The immune dysregulation inherent to HIV infection may interfere with the diagnosis of RA or mimic its clinical presentation. There have been reports of RA arising de novo in HIV positive patients as part of immune reconstitution syndrome following the initiation of anti retroviral therapy [8]. As already stated, HIV-associated arthritis can present as a polyarthritis of the small joints that mimics RA clinically and radiographically. Serological markers of RA can be found in HIV infected patients, and visa versa. Du Toit et al. found positive IgG RF and anti-CCP antibodies in 47 and 15 % of patients with HIV/AIDS respectively, although most patients had low titers [22]. In this study, the antibody titers reduced after 6 months of antiretroviral therapy and no patients developed RA at 1 year follow-up. Conversely, Li et al. found false-positive HIV serology in 16 % of their cohort of Chinese RA patients [23].

Several reports have suggested that patients with established rheumatoid arthritis experience clinical improvement after the development of immunodeficiency secondary to HIV [15] Recently, Tarr et al. observed that most HIV positive RA patients in their cohort had lower joint counts and composite disease activity scores despite stopping methotrexate therapy compared to HIV negative controls, supporting the suggestion that HIV infection improves RA disease activity [24]. Their study further highlighted difficulties in monitoring patients with inflammatory arthritis, who happen to be HIV positive. A persistently elevated ESR is a feature of HIV infection [25], and as a result, they demonstrated that the 28 joint count disease activity score (DAS-28) ESR overestimates disease activity by as much as 30 % when compared to DAS28 CRP (Table 1).

Table 1 Summary of clinical characteristics of Inflammatory Articular Syndromes in HIV positive patients
Full size table

Discussion

Therapy of inflammatory arthritis in HIV positive patients

There are potential issues regarding the safety of disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARD) and biologic therapy in HIV positive patients, with most available data coming from case series. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs remain the first line treatment for HIV-associated arthritis. Due to the typically self-limited nature of the condition, DMARDS are rarely required [15]. This is in contrast with the other forms of arthropathy found in association with HIV infection. The arthritis of undifferentiated SPA, and indeed all the SPA can improve significantly with highly active antiretroviral treatment alone [26]. Both the arthritis and the cutaneous lesions of HIV-associated reactive arthritis and PsA have been found to respond to etretinate (0.5–1.0 mg/kg/day) according to one report [27].

Interestingly, both Indomethacin and hydroxychloroquine have demonstrated antiretroviral activity in small case series [28–30]. The hydroxychloroquine dose used in one series was 800 mg daily however - a dose not recommended in routine rheumatological practice. Methotrexate was initially viewed as contraindicated in HIV infection due fears of an increased risk of opportunistic infections [31], but is nowadays used cautiously in HIV positive RA and PsA patients with higher CD 4 counts (greater than 100/mm3 [11]), as long as close monitoring of cell counts is performed [24]. It is still felt though that it should be avoided in those with concomitant hepatitis C infection [11]. Sulphasalazine (at a dose of 1–2 g daily) has been successfully used to treat SPA with no clinical deterioration in HIV infection [32], and in one reported case even resulted in an improvement in CD 4 count in a patient with reactive arthritis [21]. Leflunomide at a dose of 20 mg daily (used specifically to treat HIV rather than arthritis) has also been shown to reduce HIV replication [33]. Mycophenolate (1 g BD) [34], azathioprine [35] and gold [36] have also been reported to be efficacious in HIV positive patients with PsA. Short courses of prednisolone are also considered safe, even in advanced HIV infection [37]. In one series, Bromocriptine has also been associated with suppression of acute inflammatory arthritis in four out of the five patients with reactive arthritis who failed to respond to sulfasalazine alone. The exact mechanism of its action in the context is not well understood [38].

Biologic DMARDS have been used successfully in HIV positive patients with surprisingly good safety profile. A series of 8 American HIV positive patients had anti- Tumour Necrosis Factor (anti-TNF) agents (etanercept, adalimumab and infliximab) for different rheumatic conditions (two patients with RA, three with PsA, one with undifferentiated SPA, one with reactive arthritis and one with ankylosing spondylitis) with good efficacy and no adverse effects on their HIV disease [39]. The follow-up in this study was 60 months and the use of the anti-TNF agents was restricted to those with CD4 cell count more than 200 cells/ml and viral loads of less than 60 000 copies/ml at the initiation of the therapy [39]. Clearly, these patients need screening for latent tuberculosis and vigilant monitoring for the development of tuberculosis. Most recently, ustekinamab has been used in a patient with psoriasis and PsA previously refractory to methotrexate, adalimumab, etanercept and golimumab. Significant improvement was observed in his skin and joint disease and, after 2 years of therapy, he has maintained a stable CD 4 count (above 800 mm3) and an undetectable viral load while being free of opportunistic infections [40]. There has been one report however of an HIV patient with psoriatic arthritis in whom Etanercept had to be stopped due to recurrent infections [19].

There are several important drug interactions of relevance for HIV positive patients with inflammatory arthritis. For example, ritonavir is a potent inhibitor of liver enzymes CYP3A4 (which metabolises many commonly used glucocorticoids) and CYP2D6. Ritonavir can potently increase the action and duration of action of corticosteroids and severe Cushing’s syndrome has been reported on several occasions following single intra-articular injections of triamcinolone (usually as Kenalog) for musculoskeletal disease [13]. Therefore triamcinolone preparations should not be administered to patients on ritonavir.

Conclusions

There are challenges in the management of inflammatory arthritis in patients who are HIV-positive, including difficulties in the assessment of disease activity and limited information on the safety of immunosuppressive drugs in these individuals. Registries for prospective follow up of HIV positive patients with arthropathies are urgently needed to shed light on clinical features and natural history of these conditions, and to develop treatment guidelines.

Abbreviations

AIDS:

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

anti-TNF:

Anti- Tumour Necrosis Factor

ARV:

Antiretroviral

DMARD:

Disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

PsA:

Psoriatic arthritis

RA:

Rheumatoid arthritis

SPA:

Spondyloarthropathies

References

  1. Winchester R, Bernstein D, Fischer H, Enlow R, Solomon G. The co-occurrence of Reiter’s syndrome and acquired immunodeficiency. Ann Intern Med. 1987;106:19–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. UNAIDS. Global Report: UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic. 2012. Available from http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/epidemiology/2012/gr2012/20121120_UNAIDS_Global_Report_2012_en.pdf.

  3. Kaddu-Mukasa M, Ssekasanvu E, Ddumba E, Thomas D, Katabira ET. Rheumatic manifestations among HIV positive adults attending the Infectious disease clinic at Mulago hospital. Afr Health Sci. 2011;11(1):24–9.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Kole AK, Roy R, Kole D. Musculoskeletal and rheumatological disorders in HIV infection: Experience in a tertiary referral center. Indian J Sex Transm Dis. 2013;34(2):107–12.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Plate A-M, Boyle B. Musculoskeletal Manifestations of HIV. AIDS Read. 2003;13(2):62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Weeratunge NC, Roldan J, Anstead GM. Jaccoud arthropathy: a rarityin the spectrum of HIV-associated arthropathy. Am J Med. 2004;328:351–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Espinoza LR, García-Valladares I. Microbios y articulaciones: la relación entre infección y articulaciones. Reumatol Clin. 2013;9:229–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Reveille JD, Williams M. Rheumatologic complications of HIV infection. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2006;20(6):1159e1179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Allroggen A, Frese A, Rahmann A, Gaubitz M, Husstedt W, Evers S. HIV associated arthritis: A case report and review of the literature. Eur J Med Res. 2005;10:305–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Rynes RI, Goldenberg DL, DIGiacomo R, Olson R, Hussain M, Veazey J. Acquired immunodeficiencysyndrome-associated arthritis. Am J Med. 1988;84:810–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Mody G, Parke F. Articular manifestations of humanimmunodeficiency virus infection. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2003;17(2):265–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Reveille JD. The changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in human immunodeficiency virus infection. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2000;30(3):147.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Newton L, van Halsema C, Snowden N. HIV and Rheumatology: A practical guide. ARUK Topical Reviews. Issue 5 (Topical Reviews Series 7) Autumn 2014.

  14. Keat A. HIV and overlap with Reiter’s syndrome. Baillieres Clin Rheumatol. 1994;8(2):363–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lawson E, Walker-Bone K. The changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in HIV infection. Br Med Bull. 2012;103(1):203–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Njobvu P, McGill P. Psoriatic arthritis and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Zambia. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:1699–702.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Castillo RL, Racaza GZ, Roa FD. Ostraceous and inverse psoriasis with psoriaticarthritis as the presenting features of advanced HIV infection. Singapore Med J. 2014;55(4):e60–3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Phillips C, Reno H, Atkinson JP, Ranganathan P. HIV presenting as an unusual arthropathy. Arthritis Care Res. 2011;63(3):450–3.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Aboulafia DM, Bundow D, Wilske K, Ochs UI. Etanercept for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus associated arthritis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:1093–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Nguyen B, Reveille J. Rheumatic manifestations associated with HIV in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2009;21:404–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mahajan A, Tandon V, Verma S. Rheumatological manifestations in HIV infection. JIACM. 2006;7(2):136–44.

    Google Scholar 

  22. du Toit R, Whitelaw D, Taljaard JJ, du Plessis L, Esser M. Lack of specificity of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Rheumatol. 2011;38:1055–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Li YC, Yang F, Ji XY, Fang ZJ, Liu J, Wang Y. False human immunodeficiency virus test results associated with rheumatoid factors in rheumatoid arthritis. Chin Med Sci J. 2014;29:103–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Tarr G, Makda M, Musenge E, Tikly M. Effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective study in South Africans. J Rheumatol. 2014;41(8):1645–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ndakotsu MA, Salawu L, Durosinmi MA. Relation between erythrocyte sedimentation rate, clinical and immune status in HIV-infected patients. Niger J Med. 2009;18(2):208–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. McGonagle D, Reade S, Marzo-Ortega H, Gibbon W, O'Connor P, Morgan A, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus associated spondyloarthropathy:pathogenic insights based on imaging findings and response to highly active antiretroviraltreatment. Ann Rheum Dis. 2001;60:696e698.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Louthrenoo W. Successful treatment of severe Reiter’s syndrome associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection with etretinate. Report of 2 cases. J Rheumatol. 1993;20:1243–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Bourinbaiar AS, Lee-Huang S. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin, as an inhibitor of HIV replication. FEBS Lett. 1995;360:85–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sperber K, Kalb TH, Stecher VJ, Banerjee R, Mayer L. Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by hydroxychloroquine in T cells and monocytes. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1993;9:91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Sperber K, Louie M, Kraus T, Proner J, Sapira E, Lin S, et al. Hydroxychloroquine treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Clin Ther. 1995;17:622–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Masson C, Chennebault JM, Leclech C. Is HIV infection contraindication to the use of methotrexate in psoriatic arthritis? J Rheumatol. 1995;22(11):219.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Youssef PP, Bertouch JV, Jones PD. Successful treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-associated Reiter’s syndrome with sulfasalazine. Arthritis Rheum. 1992;35:723–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Schläpfer E, Fischer M, Ott P, Speck RF. Anti-HIV-1 activity of leflunomide: a comparison with mycophenolic acid and hydroxyurea. AIDS. 2003;17(11):1613–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Forman SB, Higginson R, Garrett AB. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a patient with HIV: response to mycophenolate mofetil treatment. J Drugs Dermatol. 2008;7(10):972.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Maurer TA, Zackheim HS, Tuffanelli L, et al. The use of methotrexate for treatment of psoriasisin patients with HIV infection. J Acad Derm. 1994;31:372–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Shapiro DL, Masci JR. Treatment of HIV associated psoriatic arthritis with oral gold. J Rheumatol. 1996;23(10):1818–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Maganti R, Reveille J, Williams F. Therapy insight: the changing spectrum of rheumatic disease in HIV infection. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008;4:428–38.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Yombi JC, Maiter D, Belkhir L, Nzeusseu A, Vandercam B. Iatrogenic Cushing’s syndrome and secondary adrenal insufficiency after a single intra-articular administration of triamcinolone acetonide in HIV-infected patients treated with ritonavir. Clin Rheumatol. 2008;27 Suppl 2:S79–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Cepeda EJ, Williams FM, Ishimori ML, Weisman MH, Reveille JD. The use of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy inHIV-positive individuals with rheumatic disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:710–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Wieder S, Routt E, Levitt J, Lebwohl M. Treatment of refractory psoriasis with ustekinumab in an <?show [?A3B2 show $6#?]?>HIV-positive patient: a case presentation and review of the literature. Psoriasis Forum. 2014;20:96–102.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

There are no other parties to acknowledge. No funding bodies were involved in carrying out this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Department, Heart of England NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK

    T. Adizie

  2. Rheumatology Department, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

    R. J. Moots

  3. Clinical Sciences Centre, Aintree University Hospital, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK

    R. J. Moots

  4. Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    B. Hodkinson

  5. Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology, Institute of Infection & Global Health, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    N. French

  6. Academic Rheumatology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    A. O. Adebajo

Authors
  1. T. Adizie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. J. Moots
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Hodkinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N. French
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. O. Adebajo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. J. Moots.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

All authors agreed on the focus and structure of the paper. TA, BH and AOA conducted the literature search. TA, AOA and BH drafted the first version of the manuscript. RJM and NF contributed substantially to the final version. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Adizie, T., Moots, R.J., Hodkinson, B. et al. Inflammatory arthritis in HIV positive patients: A practical guide. BMC Infect Dis 16, 100 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-016-1389-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-016-1389-2

Keywords

BMC Infectious Diseases

ISSN: 1471-2334

Contact us